To Kill a Mockingbird

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My two kids have not read it in any class.

It has fallen out of favor because of the white savior narrative.

Yeah, I think the curriculum in many places—not just MCPS—has shifted toward reading about racism and/or oppression from the perspective of the people it’s inflicted upon.

Although I graduated from HS in 1900, took advanced/AP classes all through middle and high school, did an English minor in college, and I’ve never read TKAM. Sometimes I feel like I have, because it used to be so ubiquitous; and people seem to love the movie as well. I guess that’s why I’ve never felt the need to read it (or watch the movie).

Well there's your problem right there, the book came out when you were 78.

And since you must now be about 142, I’d love to know your longevity secret!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s the purpose of making kids read this trash?

You obviously have never read TKAM if you are calling it trash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s currently assigned for my 9th grader in honors English.

I'm teaching this book to 9th and 10th graders right now. There comes a point when it is more about the analysis than the lexile level. This is a very well written book and useful for teaching a lot of literary concepts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My two kids have not read it in any class.

It has fallen out of favor because of the white savior narrative.

Yeah, I think the curriculum in many places—not just MCPS—has shifted toward reading about racism and/or oppression from the perspective of the people it’s inflicted upon.

Although I graduated from HS in 1900, took advanced/AP classes all through middle and high school, did an English minor in college, and I’ve never read TKAM. Sometimes I feel like I have, because it used to be so ubiquitous; and people seem to love the movie as well. I guess that’s why I’ve never felt the need to read it (or watch the movie).

By your own states criteria the book is still as relevant today as ever.

The book tells the story of racism and oppression in this country from the perspective of children - racism and oppression are inflicted on all children because neither is a natural state into which children are born, they must be educated into racism and oppression and that’s core to the book.

The book is also about childhood grief, and the sufferings of abused and neglected and abandoned children.

And it isn’t a white savior narrative. There would not have been a black lawyer in Macon at the time, it’s not like Tom had a choice in this regard and as already stated, Atticus doesn’t save anybody, he just serves as a cog in a twisted and broken system.

There is so much of value to teach in TKAM, and always will be.

THIS. Ever since COVID and BLM, people are on a crusade to terrorize Harper Lee. They say, “This book was written by a white woman about black issues.” And um yeah, that’s what made it so radical. Almost no one in the Deep South during the 60s who was white AND a woman would dare write a book calling out racism in America. Harper Lee basically became a hermit bc of all the hate she received from white people. TKAM is essentially the same as putting your profile pic as a a trendy black box during Covid only TKAM isn’t just a bandwagon fad… it helped facilitate a lot of GOOD that came out of the Civil Rights Movement. Does it use the N-word? Um yeah because how else can you show the true volatility of the racist characters in the book? The book would not be the same if the evil characters in the book just said “oh that mean black man.” Swear words are used for characterization and are ALWAYS associated with the antagonists in the book.

The book is a classic and will always be. The people and kids who champion against TKAM either 1) have never read it or 2) want to start problems in order to seem more woke than the next person.

This society truly appalls me.

To answer the OP… TKAM is a 9th grade text but depending on which school you teach is depending on if you will get canceled for teaching it. Truly a shame.

I don’t believe most people in MCPS are on a crusade to terrorize Harper Lee not do they discount the TKAM is a good book. What they seek to do is explore other books and authors that can teach the same lessons and let the same ideas be explored. In particular a more diverse set of authors who present the story from the point of view of those upon whom racism and injustice as been inflicted.

Certainly there are folks out there generally who want to demonize TKAM. However, just because it’s no longer the quintessential book assigned doesn’t mean there is a problem with the book, author, or the new books assigns in its place.

The kids are reading plenty of "diverse authors." In fact, probably too many, given the quality of some of the writing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My two kids have not read it in any class.

It has fallen out of favor because of the white savior narrative.

Such a shame, it is incredible writing and though the narrative is told by a white narrator the views are told from the child’s perspective of trying to make sense of the acts and behaviors/beliefs of humans during a particular period of history in our country, which provides a jumping off point for discussion of what is happening today in our country. There are multiple layers to discuss beyond white savior-ism. It is a book you really have to read more than once and not just as a middle schooler to appreciate and absorb.

[Anonymous]

I think it can be hard for folks to understand that dropping something from the curriculum is not the same as "cancelling" it.

The book still exists. It is almost certainly stocked in the school library. It could easily be taught as part of a dedicated course on American Literature, given that the book's real strength is the writing.

But the idea that one single book "deserves" to be on the curriculum every year in perpetuity is just silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Neither of my kids read it and I am very upset about it. One went to Westland, one to Silver Creek.

Same here. I went to Pyle. Read it for the first time in my 30s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it can be hard for folks to understand that dropping something from the curriculum is not the same as "cancelling" it.

The book still exists. It is almost certainly stocked in the school library. It could easily be taught as part of a dedicated course on American Literature, given that the book's real strength is the writing.

But the idea that one single book "deserves" to be on the curriculum every year in perpetuity is just silly.

This. PP who pointed out that curricula evolve is correct (even if I personally love TKAM), and that's a positive thing. People complaining that it hasn't been assigned to their kids can easily rectify that if they choose.